More stratified levels of service, workers who are underpaid and overworked, and a climate that is increasingly hostile to human activity—the experience of privatized air travel worldwide is rapidly deteriorating. Journalist Scott Smith lists six ways how.

Shareholders of Continental and United Airlines have finally voted to form a more perfect United Airlines, merging the two companies under United’s name to create the world’s largest airline service, overtaking its closest U.S. rival—the newly merged Delta and Northwest Airlines—and European carriers.

The FAA has proposed its largest fine ever over maintenance violations, which in this case could have caused fires and explosions, according to the regulator. American Airlines can appeal the fine, more than twice as large as the previous record-setting penalty.

Passengers traveling to the U.S. from or by way of certain countries on the U.S. government’s naughty list, which includes Yemen and Cuba, will be subject to “enhanced screening” starting Monday. (continued)

If you plan on speeding through Holly Springs, Ga., be warned: The police chief there has decided to start charging the pulled-over a fuel surcharge. Cop houses around the country are struggling with the high cost of gas. The chief in Holly Springs said he got the idea from businesses, such as airlines, that pass their troubles on to the consumer.

The shocking truth about FAA plane inspections was revealed Thursday when three inspectors told a congressional hearing their supervisors ignored their concerns about the safety of Southwest planes and reprimanded them for raising questions.

An interesting confluence of apparent homo- and terror-phobia: A gay couple flying on an JFK-bound AA flight out of Paris were told that their air kissing was impermissible; when the couple inquired further, the captain threatened to divert the plane.

Post 9/11, the U.S. penned a deal demanding that airlines submit 34 pieces of passenger information including names, addresses and credit card info. The EU Parliament has opposed the deal from the beginning, arguing that it does not guarantee adequate data protection, and now the European Court of Justice has annulled it. Washington has threatened big fines for noncompliance in the past. Privacy? Data protection? How un-American!